Dodge Avenger vs. Kia Rio Review

Performance
When it comes to horsepower, the Dodge Avenger packs quite a wallop and will knock the Kia Rio down a few rungs. On the other hand, note that high horsepower engines often command higher insurance premiums.

Handling
With its tighter turning circle, the Kia Rio is quite certainly more maneuverable than the Dodge, something to consider if you do a lot of city driving; on the flip side, keep in mind that a vehicle with a tight turning circle may feel a bit twitchy on the highway.

Drivetrain
The Dodge Avenger's engine is significantly more massive than the Rio's. Keep in mind that more massive engines may use more gasoline than smaller ones. The Kia Rio could learn a lesson or two from the Avenger regarding torque. Torque is roughly equivalent to acceleration, and in this respect, the Dodge Avenger is tremendously more powerful than the Kia.

Utility
Neither the Rio nor the Avenger has a marked advantage with respect to seating capacity.

Convenience
The Kia Rio's fuel tank will need to be replenished more often than the unit in the Dodge Avenger.

Comfort
While the front cabin in the Dodge Avenger offers a bit more head room than the Kia Rio, there honestly isn't much of a difference. The Dodge offers more head- and leg-room to your passengers than the Kia Rio does.

Dimensions
The Dodge Avenger is tremendously more bulky than the Kia Rio. Your wallet will hurt more every time you fill up the Dodge Avenger than the Rio because of its bigger tank. The Kia Rio fits in smaller parking spaces than the Dodge Avenger. The Kia Rio's shorter wheelbase will give a sprier feel in daily traffic. On the other hand, the Avenger is likely to have a smoother, more stable ride.

Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs almost the same to get the Kia to the dealership as the Dodge Avenger. Producing a precise fuel economy evaluation is so tough that some think not even the federal government can do it, but it looks as though the Rio is the winner in terms of gas mileage. There frankly isn't much of a difference in gas mileage here, but if you must know, the Kia is somewhat more economical than the Dodge Avenger. The Avenger is tremendously costlier than the Kia Rio in terms of MSRP.

Warranty
The basic after-sale protection that comes with the Dodge Avenger isn't quite as generous as the Kia's.